The world in
general and Pakistanis in particular fail to understand the vehement opposition
of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The level of insanity is also evident from the dictating tone in which he is
addressing the Chinese government. Therefore, there is need to understand his
level of anxiety.
Indian
External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj has said that India strongly opposes
US$46 billion CPEC project. Addressing a press conference she said that during
his visit to China, Indian Prime Minister Modi had raised "very
strongly" the issue of the CPEC to Beijing and told them that it was
"unacceptable" for India.
Modi’s prime
objection is that CPEC will pass through Pakistan occupied Kashmir, which is
not the real issue. He knows it very well that if CPEC becomes fully operative,
importance of Chabahar port, which India is building in Iran will diminish
drastically. It is known to all that Pakistan offers the shortest and the most
cost efficient route to Central Asia passing through Afghanistan.
Ever since
Pakistan started construction of Gwadar port and particularly after its
management was transferred to China, India has been spreading disinformation
that China is building a naval base under the disguise of a civil commercial
port.
The fact is
that CPEC is a development megaproject aimed at connecting Gwadar Port in
southwestern Pakistan to China’s northwestern autonomous region of Xinjiang,
via a network of highways, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas as
well as other goods. The economic corridor is considered the focal point of
China Pakistan relations and will run about 3,000 km from Gwadar to
Kashgar. The 3,000 kilometer corridor is an extension of China’s proposed 21st
century Silk Road initiative.
The project
will also open trade routes for Western China and provide China direct access
to the resource-rich Middle East region, bypassing longer logistical routes
currently through the Strait of Malacca. According to The Guardian, "The
Chinese are not just offering to build much-needed infrastructure but also make
Pakistan a key partner in its grand economic and strategic ambitions."
CPEC is a
paradigm shift toward greater economic cooperation between Pakistan and China,
which have long had close security ties amid common disputes with neighboring
India. The corridor would give China access to the Indian Ocean and lead to
investments that would help ease power shortages that are hindering economic
growth in Pakistan.
India wants
to sabotage CPEC at any cost, even to the extent of taking advantage of various
insurgent groups operating in Pakistan, the most notorious being those having
bases in Southern Punjab and Baluchistan. It is often alleged that RAW and
Mousad are involved in proving funds, arms and training to certain group, the
most notorious being Jundullah.
Modi knows
well that if China bound goods are passing through Pakistan, special care will
be taken by both the governments to ensure safety and security of the goods. In
such a scenario agents funded by Israel and India may find it difficult to
continue supporting insurgent groups in Baluchistan.
It is also
necessary to remind the incumbent government that it has not been able to tell
the public the route, which provides opportunities to those having vested
interest to spread disinformation. At present at least maps of four different
routes are in circulation, which provide ample opportunities to the groups
having vested interest to initiate unnecessary debate and arouse anti Pakistan
sentiments.
